Carbon fiber precursor-also known as the carbon fiber feedstock-is the polymeric raw material used in the production of carbon fibers. It is primarily classified into three categories: polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based, pitch-based, and rayon-based; among these, PAN-based precursors account for over 90% of total carbon fiber production. PAN-based precursors are manufactured through a process involving spinning, pre-oxidation, and carbonization. Their preparation utilizes wet spinning or dry-wet spinning (dry-jet wet spinning) techniques, comprising stages such as extrusion and coagulation, washing, and drawing. Pitch-based precursors are formed via melt spinning using petroleum or coal pitch as raw materials, while rayon-based precursors are produced through wet spinning using regenerated cellulose processes.
China's carbon fiber industry has established a complete industrial chain ranging from precursors to composite materials, with the development of high-strength, high-modulus PAN-based precursors serving as a primary strategic focus. Jilin Chemical Fiber Group initiated independent R&D in 2006 and achieved mass production of precursors in 2011, utilizing equipment that was 100% domestically manufactured. By 2024, the company's precursor production capacity reached 160,000 tons, with plans to increase this to 190,000 tons in 2025. The industry has successfully reduced manufacturing costs by 10% through thermal energy recovery retrofits and is actively developing lignin-based precursor technologies as a means of cost control.
Given that the cost of precursors accounts for as much as 60.26% of the total cost of carbon fiber production, the development of low-cost alternative raw materials represents a critical strategic direction. Production processes now incorporate advanced techniques-such as plasma oxidation and combined infrared radiation and radio-frequency (RF) heating-to significantly reduce the time required for oxidation and carbonization; furthermore, precursor production is trending toward the development of large-tow and jumbo-tow fibers. On December 31, 2025, Jinggong Technology officially commenced trial production on its first carbon fiber precursor production line, successfully yielding its inaugural batch of high-performance PAN-based carbon fiber precursors on January 2, 2026.
